Councilman Arrested on Drunk Driving Charge
Baldwin Park City Councilman Herschel Keyser was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after he refused to take a test to determine the amount of alcohol in his blood, authorities said.
Arresting Baldwin Park officers also seized Keyser’s driver’s license. Refusing to take a chemical test is grounds for license suspension, pending a Department of Motor Vehicles hearing. Lt. Dan Higginbotham said officers stopped Keyser, 60, in a parking lot on Main Avenue late Saturday and detected alcohol on his breath.
“The officers advised him to remain there, but he started up his car again and drove out of the parking lot,” the lieutenant said. Keyser, who was arrested a short distance away, lashed out at police, Higginbotham said, telling one officer “‘I don’t blame people for shooting at you. I think it should be declared open season on Baldwin Park police. I hope you get shot and killed tonight.”’
Keyser subsequently refused a blood test and failed a field sobriety test, police said. The councilman did not return phone calls from The Times.
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